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Marcassin Marcassin Vineyard Chardonnay 2012
Helen Turley and John Wetlaufer's legendary Marcassin now available in limited quantities. Always one of the highest-rated Chardonnays in California. 100 Points Robert Parker: "The 2012 Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard, which will probably be released in a few months, displays great minerality, notes of honeysuckle, orange marmalade, poached pear, and white flowers as well as a touch of quince. A wine of great intensity, yet incredibly ethereal elegance, this light greenish gold-colored wine is full-bodied, stunningly rich, and altogether remarkable. When you consider that they use 100% new French oak and 100% heavy toast for both their Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, it is remarkable how little oak appears in these wines. This wine should age well for 10-15 years, as most of the Marcassin Estate Chardonnays have done to date." ...The visionary husband and wife team of John Wetlaufer and Helen Turley have created a largely unprecedented legacy of extraordinary quality that is unsurpassed by anyone else in Northern California. They have built a winery in Windsor, California in Sonoma Valley with 20 acres of vines situated high above the fog line, on the Sonoma Coast. They were among the first to recognize the extraordinary potential for world-class quality wine production on the Sonoma Coast. Their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines are planted at elevations between 800 and 1,400 feet. The plantings are either 5 x 8 or 3 x 6.5. The Chardonnay clonal material is dominated by Old Wente, but there are also selections from the Hyde, Mt. Eden, Dijon 95 and Dijon 76 clones. The Pinot Noir clonal material is dominated by the Calera selection, with some Old Swan that came via the old Martin Ray clone that came via Dehlinger and Kistler. The second part of their 20-acre vineyard was planted, at least for the Pinot Noir, largely with the Calera selection as well as the newer Dijon clones 777 and 667.The winemaking techniques are clearly artisanal and very Burgundian, although these Chardonnays tend to age better than most white Burgundies made since 1996. I tasted two vintages, the Three Sisters, which is a Martinelli-farmed vineyard from which they will no longer be using fruit, in addition to their profound estate vineyard. 2010 produced just over two tons of fruit per acre and was a vintage that appears to be slightly more intense and have a higher ceiling than 2009."
Ratings on Delectable
Ed Lehrman 
A distinctive CA Chard for sure. Creamy, dusty, lemony, with white flowers that hang with you. Very drinkable.
A distinctive CA Chard for sure. Creamy, dusty, lemony, with white flowers that hang with you. Very drinkable.
9.3
Roy Goble
Wow
Wow
10
Shay A
After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind. I was somewhat surprised to see this was a Marcassin, mostly because it seemed more elegant than my normal experience. It didn’t have that roasted marshmallow note I seem to associate with Marcassin. This was my favorite of the two whites...extremely aromatic with chamomile, honeysuckle, powdered lemon tart and orange blossom. Massive amounts of juicy fruit (which I associate with Peter Michael) on the palate...frosted guava, sea salt and lemon meringue. I called this 8-10yr old Cali chard (specifically Peter Michael Point Rouge).
After a couple months of hiatus, the Friday City Club group was able to get back together (albeit a smaller, more spread out group) for an epic hosting by @joe leatherwood . 1 sparkler, 2 whites, 5 reds and 1 dessert wine, all served blind. I was somewhat surprised to see this was a Marcassin, mostly because it seemed more elegant than my normal experience. It didn’t have that roasted marshmallow note I seem to associate with Marcassin. This was my favorite of the two whites...extremely aromatic with chamomile, honeysuckle, powdered lemon tart and orange blossom. Massive amounts of juicy fruit (which I associate with Peter Michael) on the palate...frosted guava, sea salt and lemon meringue. I called this 8-10yr old Cali chard (specifically Peter Michael Point Rouge).
9.5
Michael Herzog
Man, did this one open up incredibly. Started out a bit reticent but a few hours in, it was singing. Tension in a good way, so many flavors and a finish that went on and on. One of the best Cali chards I have had to date. I have more thank goodness.
Man, did this one open up incredibly. Started out a bit reticent but a few hours in, it was singing. Tension in a good way, so many flavors and a finish that went on and on. One of the best Cali chards I have had to date. I have more thank goodness.
9.6Shay A
Just a few bottles from an awesome Open That Bottle Night celebration this past weekend. Youngest Marcassin I’ve tasted. Very powerful. A battle between fruit (pear, roasted lemon) and savory notes (sea salt, roasted cashew). At this stage, there is actually a delicate note in the middle...white flower like. Chamomile too. Great as always @Dan Fitzgerald
Just a few bottles from an awesome Open That Bottle Night celebration this past weekend. Youngest Marcassin I’ve tasted. Very powerful. A battle between fruit (pear, roasted lemon) and savory notes (sea salt, roasted cashew). At this stage, there is actually a delicate note in the middle...white flower like. Chamomile too. Great as always @Dan Fitzgerald
9.5
Tom Garland
Marcassin pour it down the drain party for their poor customer service(not all my bottles, rest of my back vintages are going to auction and told them to take me off future allocations). Without even tasting the bottles, they had an acrid smell with bitter, astringent, nasty, harsh, vitriolic, corrosive undertones and a very unflattering, unpleasant finish. Yep, its SOUR GRAPES. Their inept customer service will do that to you so watch out....down the drain it goes for some chuckles. Cheers!
Marcassin pour it down the drain party for their poor customer service(not all my bottles, rest of my back vintages are going to auction and told them to take me off future allocations). Without even tasting the bottles, they had an acrid smell with bitter, astringent, nasty, harsh, vitriolic, corrosive undertones and a very unflattering, unpleasant finish. Yep, its SOUR GRAPES. Their inept customer service will do that to you so watch out....down the drain it goes for some chuckles. Cheers!
6.5
Norman Gennaro
Big fan
Big fan
9.6Brenda Terzich-Garland
New Years Eve at The Farm Restaurant, Carneros Resort and Spa. Opened some of my favorite wines: Marcassin Chardonnay, 2012 with oysters and caviar and salmon dish. Structure of wine is layered with apricot-orange, floral blossoms, lemon, cedar and vanilla. The Next of Kyn, 2013 Syrah blend paired nicely with the Wellington beef. Covers the pallet with dark blackberry, licorice and chocolate changing in taste as it opened up. Tannins still present but not over powering. Both wines deserve a 9.5 rating with plenty of age left on them.
New Years Eve at The Farm Restaurant, Carneros Resort and Spa. Opened some of my favorite wines: Marcassin Chardonnay, 2012 with oysters and caviar and salmon dish. Structure of wine is layered with apricot-orange, floral blossoms, lemon, cedar and vanilla. The Next of Kyn, 2013 Syrah blend paired nicely with the Wellington beef. Covers the pallet with dark blackberry, licorice and chocolate changing in taste as it opened up. Tannins still present but not over powering. Both wines deserve a 9.5 rating with plenty of age left on them.
9.5Tom Garland
Sushi and Chard night.......1 hour decant(some cloudy sediment). A sublime light gold color. On the nose: stone fruit, pear, crushed rocks, floral, some oak. Taste: green apple, pear, minerals, orange peel, toast. Nice long finish..
Sushi and Chard night.......1 hour decant(some cloudy sediment). A sublime light gold color. On the nose: stone fruit, pear, crushed rocks, floral, some oak. Taste: green apple, pear, minerals, orange peel, toast. Nice long finish..
9.4Mark Flesher
One of the better Chardonnays on the table. Although I think this one was bested a scosche by a 2015 Aubert Sugar Shack. This is the opinion of one man! I really was not getting much on the nose. Possibly due to my impatience of wanting to try within 5 minutes of cork pop? Potentially. Definitely on the herbal side. Palate of yellow fruit, guava, baked green apples. More to the leaner than full throttle side. Finishing with some stiff oak tannin, this one is going to hang around for a WHILE I believe. I think I'd like to try this in a few more years if I am lucky...
One of the better Chardonnays on the table. Although I think this one was bested a scosche by a 2015 Aubert Sugar Shack. This is the opinion of one man! I really was not getting much on the nose. Possibly due to my impatience of wanting to try within 5 minutes of cork pop? Potentially. Definitely on the herbal side. Palate of yellow fruit, guava, baked green apples. More to the leaner than full throttle side. Finishing with some stiff oak tannin, this one is going to hang around for a WHILE I believe. I think I'd like to try this in a few more years if I am lucky...
9.3
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